Summary

Confronting Kakuzu once more, Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara and Chōji Akimichi learn that Dan Katō and Asuma Sarutobi have been resurrected to fight on the side of the Akatsuki. Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane manage to sneak up behind Kakuzu and restrain him so that Team Asuma can seal him, but he manages to escape. Shikaku Nara orders the new generation of Ino-Shika-Chō to deal with Asuma while Darui aids Izumo and Kotetsu in battling Kakuzu and despite Izumo's protest, claiming this to be too cruel, they eventually agree. Out of the three, Chōji is most hesitant at confronting his former teacher while Ino and Shikamaru realise that they are the only ones who can defeat their teacher because they knew him best. Asuma attempts to give advice to three shinobi on how to defeat him before involuntarily burning them alive. When the smoke clears, he finds his three students standing opposite him. Shikamaru and Ino begin to fight in earnest but Chōji is tormented by the happy memories of his sensei, as well as his kind personality preventing him from attacking Asuma. Tenten meanwhile uses the Bashōsen which she found it and destroys Kakuzu's lightning mask. As Ino and Shikamaru try to boost Chōji's will to fight to no avail, Asuma even calls Chōji "fatso" in an attempt to enrage him. Chōji, infuriated then prepares himself to punch Asuma.